A couple from Garston will be reunited with their Aussie mates Down Under after winning the "trip of a lifetime" in a nationwide competition.

Raymond Mitchell and his wife Linda are flying out next month in time to celebrate Australia day on January 26 with their long-time friends, after Raymond won the Flight Centre UK competition.

Raymond and Linda first struck up a friendship with Aussies Eric and Lorraine on a cruise in 2008. Since then, both couples have remained in contact with hopes of eventually reuniting.

Linda, 55, who works for a financial advisors, said: "It’s very funny, Ray does these competitions and just forgets about them. We can’t believe we won.

"Eric and Lorraine are a really lovely couple, it will be such a pleasure to met up with them again."

The friends have managed to briefly catch up on a few occasions since the Panama Canal cruise six years ago, in Bali, London, and finally in Australia in 2012.

But the couples will now get a proper holiday together when Raymond and Linda fly out to The Gold Coast on January 21.

Flight Centre UK has organised a beach party for the winners and their friends on Australia Day, Raymond was one of ten lucky winners of the travel company’s competition organised in association with Tourism and Events Queensland.

The prize includes seven night’s accommodation with two return flights with Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia from the UK to Queensland where the winners will be reunited with their long lost friends and family from across Australia.

Raymond, 63, retired from the military, added: "We are very much looking forward to it. We always have great fun with Eric and Lorraine - what a way for us to meet up again."

Since launching in October, the Big Aussie Reunion campaign had encouraged over 1,400 entrants to tell their personal stories about the friends and relatives they dream of visiting. 

Sarah Dean, partnership marketing manager of Flight Centre Travel Group, said "I am thrilled to announce the winners of The Big Aussie Reunion and it is truly an honour to be bringing families and friends together on the stunning Gold Coast of Queensland.

"We are absolutely delighted to be working with Tourism and Events Queensland, Virgin Australia and Etihad Airways - who have helped to make this Flight Centre’s biggest and best campaign to date."